Aldi has entered the fuel retailing market by opening three service stations in the Austrian town of Salzburg, offering heavily discounted fuel. With such a strong brand image and efficient business model, Aldi is likely to extend its petrol retailing presence across Austria and Europe, and may soon pose a challenge to the more established industry players.

Published By Datamonitor

Italian oil major ENI Agip has extended its presence in Austria with the purchase of 171 Esso branded service stations, doubling its market share in the country. The deal represents a further shake up of the Austrian fuel retail market, following German discounter Aldi's announcement that it is to expand its network of service stations selling cut-price fuel to 100 sites.

Published By Datamonitor

For the second year running, Vienna and utility Stadtwerke are providing subsidies for consumers purchasing an electric bicycle or retrofitting their existing model. This innovative scheme helps improve air quality, ease rush hour traffic, and reduce overcrowding on public transport, and ought to provide inspiration to other major cities such as London.

Published By Datamonitor

Hungary-based MOL's long-held ambition of acquiring Croatian firm INA is one step closer to reality now that it has become the largest shareholder in the company, after purchasing many of the shares issued in a free float. Further talks are underway regarding MOL's desire to purchase some or all of Croatian government's remaining share, while Austria's OMV is keeping an unexpectedly low profile.

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OMV has sold its 25% stake in Rompetrol and is now free to pursue its development aspirations in the growing Romanian fuel retail market. This is fundamental at a time when core regional rival MOL has announced that it will be updating and rebranding its recently acquired Shell sites in Romania by September of this year.

Published By Datamonitor

In the face of European Commission resistance, Austrian oil and gas company OMV has abandoned its protracted bid to acquire MOL, its Hungary-based rival. However, the EC may yet relax any restrictions placed on a potential merger, presenting OMV with another chance to acquire an MOL that could be left weakened by attempts to purchase Croatian oil firm INA.